Deeper ties with Maldives, Sri Lanka
FM’s trip to the two nations sees new collaboration initiatives, pandemic help assurance
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi hailed China’s strong bilateral ties with Maldives and Sri Lanka and called for deepening the cooperation as he visited the two South Asian island nations this past weekend.
During his trip, China and Maldives inked new agreements to strengthen economic ties and people-to-people exchanges, while Sri Lanka was assured of continued vaccine and other COVID-related help, as well as infrastructure assistance.
On Jan 8, China and the Maldives stepped up cooperation across a wide range of areas following a meeting between Wang and Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid in the Maldives capital, Male.
During their talks, the two foreign ministers agreed to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation and communication, jointly uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, oppose interference in the domestic affairs of other countries and safeguard international fairness and justice.
They witnessed the signing of a number of agreements on bilateral cooperation including the right to visit each other’s countries without first obtaining a visa. Under the agreement, Chinese and Maldivian citizens will be entitled to a 30-day visa upon arrival in the other country. The Maldives is a very popular tourist destination for Chinese people.
Other agreements involve collaboration on the economy, infrastructure and health, and cooperating on a microgrid seawater desalination plant. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Maldives.
Wang said during the talks that, over the past five decades, the two countries have been respectful of each other, have treated each other as equals and supported each other on issues related to their core interests and major concerns, and have set an example of country-to-country friendly exchanges for win-win results.
Wang welcomed the decision of Shahid, who was elected president of the 76th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in June, to attend the opening ceremony of the upcoming Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
Traveling to Sri Lanka in the next leg
of his foreign tour, Wang said on Jan 9 that China plays a constructive role in the world’s response to COVID-19, pointing out that one out of every two COVID-19 vaccines injected in the world is supplied by China.
The nation will continue to provide vaccines and medical supplies to Sri Lanka according to the latter’s need, and hopes to start cooperation with Colombo on COVID-19 specific drugs, Wang said during a meeting with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
China has provided as many as 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 120 countries and
international organizations.
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries as well as the 70th anniversary of their signing of the Rubber-Rice Pact.
China, which was in need of rubber, signed the pact with Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, in 1952, at a time when the latter saw the price of its rubber exports tumble and the price of rice surge.
According to the pact, China would trade its rice for Sri Lanka’s rubber.
By signing the pact, the two countries started friendly exchanges, showed their spirit of fighting hegemony and broke the Cold War isolation imposed by the West, Wang said.
He said China and Sri Lanka should give the projects of the Port City in Colombo and the Hambantota Port full play in driving bilateral cooperation, make use of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement and discuss reviving their negotiations over a bilateral free trade agreement.
Rajapaksa thanked China for helping Sri Lanka in times of need and supporting it in controlling COVID-19. He also expressed his appreciation for Chinese companies’ contributions to Sri Lanka’s economic and infrastructure development.
Sri Lanka hopes to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, finance, tourism and infrastructure, he added.
On Jan 10, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said it is “completely false” to argue that bilateral cooperation projects are expensive and not profitable.
“China-Sri Lanka cooperation is mutually beneficial, and has been warmly welcomed by all sectors in Sri Lanka,” he said.
Sri Lanka was the last leg of Wang’s first overseas trip of the year. Starting on Jan 4, the foreign minister visited Eritrea, Kenya, Comoros before traveling to Maldives and Sri Lanka.
Wang Yi told Sri Lankan counterpart Gamini Lakshman Peiris that the island countries in the Indian Ocean that he visited during the trip share common needs and similar development goals, and have full potential for stronger win-win cooperation.
China suggests a forum for the development of island countries in the Indian Ocean be launched at an appropriate time, he said, adding that Sri Lanka can play an important role in that regard.